Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131: Who Is Your Mother?
Cecelia Archer hadn’t expected him to ask that.
He and Gwen Morgan had already... done what they did. It was obvious she had to make way.
Wasn’t it better for her to bring it up herself before he had to spell it out?
’Burning bridges? Was he implying that she was trying to run off with the gifts his family had given her before returning them?’
Cecelia Archer wasn’t that kind of unscrupulous person. He was overthinking things.
"I..."
She hadn’t touched the gifts the grandfather had given her; they were all still in the bedside table drawer.
Cecelia wanted to explain things clearly to him, but when she met Candy’s gaze, she took out her phone instead.
"The bracelet and the gold jewelry Grandfather had made are in the bedside table drawer. I’ve never worn them, not even once. Don’t worry, nothing is missing."
"Candy and I don’t have much luggage. The clothes and shoes are all things you helped buy after we moved in. To avoid seeing Grandfather again and potentially upsetting him, we won’t be coming back for them. Please trouble Ms. King to throw them away for us."
"I’m very grateful for how much Grandfather liked and cared for Candy during this time. Truly, very grateful... No matter what, I hope Grandfather will be happy and not be angry with me." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Damien Vaughn read the lines of text she was rapidly typing, and his anger flared up all over again.
’What the hell is she on about now?’
’What did I do to offend her this time that makes her so determined to leave the Vaughn Family?’
’And she hopes Grandfather won’t be angry with her? On what grounds?’
’I’ve practically dug my heart out for her and told a massive lie, and she’s going to be this irresponsible?’
"Have you lost your mind? Are you done with this tantrum yet? If you really don’t like the stuff, then return it! Go buy whatever brand you like yourself! I won’t interfere anymore. I’ll never randomly buy you things again, how about that? Is it really that serious?"
"I’ve already gone this far with the lie, and Grandfather even believes it’s real! If you take Candy and leave now, are you trying to make something happen to him? You said yourself that Grandfather is good to you and Candy, so how can you be so heartless?"
"I don’t want to see these kinds of irresponsible words from you ever again. Cecelia Archer, I have a temper and I have limits. Don’t keep testing me!"
Cecelia stared at the text he sent back, speechless for several long minutes before she could accept the reality of the situation.
’He was the one with money and power, and she was the one who had indeed used his resources and owed him favors and money.’
’Until the debt was repaid, whatever he said, goes.’
As soon as they stepped out of the airport terminal, the driver was there to meet them.
Damien Vaughn shot Cecelia another warning glance. Only after she obediently got into the car with Candy did he give instructions to the driver.
"Take the Young Madam and the young miss home first. I have some business to take care of at the company. Wherever the Young Madam goes, you follow her. Report back to me by phone afterward."
"Understood, Young Master."
The ride back was silent. Cecelia and Candy had returned to the Vaughn Family estate.
Although they had only been gone for two short days, coming back, she felt the entire atmosphere of the house had changed.
Cecelia greeted Ms. King, but before she could put her finger on what exactly was different, she saw an elegant middle-aged woman sitting on the sofa in the center of the living room.
Tall and slender, she wore a tight-fitting black dress, and a graceful, magnificent pearl necklace adorned her neck.
Her hair wasn’t long, styled in the curly fashion of wealthy Shanghainese socialites from the 1950s and 60s. Paired with her exceptionally beautiful face and snow-white skin, even without saying a word or showing any expression, she exuded an air of opulent dominance and superiority.
Cecelia was momentarily bewildered.
She had been here for days and still hadn’t figured out just how many people were in the Vaughn Family, or what relatives they had.
This woman looked to be in her late thirties at most, but her features bore a striking resemblance to Damien Vaughn’s.
’Could she be... one of his sisters?’
Hearing voices, Mrs. Vaughn turned her gaze toward Cecelia.
’She’s prettier than her photos, I didn’t expect that.’
’She’s thin and frail-looking, not particularly well-dressed, but her skin looks fair and tender, and her features are delicate. The child she’s holding is also quite delicate.’
’But that’s just because she’s young and has some fleeting good looks. A woman like her—uncultured, penniless, with no social standing, propped up only by a thin veneer of beauty—becomes completely uninteresting once she passes thirty.’
’Damien, in the end, is still young. He’s been with too few women and doesn’t understand how short a woman’s bloom is.’
’And the peak of a woman’s bloom is precisely when it requires a vast amount of money, time, and energy to maintain.’
’Gwen Morgan outclasses this woman in every single aspect.’
’Damien is young and foolish, but Grandfather isn’t young anymore. How could he have allowed this mother and daughter to enter the family so openly?’
’Those in the know might say the Vaughn Family is noble and magnanimous, unconcerned with a woman’s background, benevolent and kind.’
’Those who aren’t would think our Vaughn Family can’t even afford to marry a proper wife!’
The madam hadn’t been back in years, and the moment she returned, she wore a long face and relentlessly questioned everything about Cecelia.
Although Ms. King did her best to speak well of Cecelia, the madam’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest.
As it happened, the old master had gone out to meet a friend yesterday and hadn’t returned yet. Ms. King knew the madam’s temper.
Back when she was young in her own family, she had been an arrogant, domineering, and self-satisfied young lady. After marrying into the Vaughn Family, with the Vaughn Group’s business steadily growing year after year, and her being the wife of the eldest son, she had enjoyed endless glory and wealth. She had no idea how to be considerate of others, and Ms. King was genuinely afraid something bad would happen.
Seeing that the two had noticed each other, Ms. King hurried forward to make the introduction.
"Young Madam, you’re back! Come, greet the madam. This is Damien’s mother, the matriarch of our Vaughn Family. You should call her ’Mom.’ Candy, go on, call her ’Grandma.’"
Cecelia’s head buzzed, and the hair on her arms stood on end.
’This woman is so young and beautiful, her skin looks as smooth as my own, and she’s Damien Vaughn’s mother?’
Seeing her surprise, Ms. King quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile. freewebnoveℓ.com
"Hard to believe, isn’t it? The madam is just too young and beautiful, right? I told her so! I said the madam is a peerless beauty who hasn’t changed a bit in all these years, and she accused me of flattering her. But no matter how young she looks, her seniority is what it is. You still have to address her properly. Go on now."
’Ms. King was right. No matter how young she looked, if she was Damien Vaughn’s mother, then she was his mother. The proper etiquette was still required.’
Although she felt incredibly awkward, Cecelia still took Candy’s hand and walked over, step by step.
But before she could even open her mouth, Mrs. Vaughn raised a hand and cut her off with a look of disdain.
"No need. Just call me ’Auntie.’"
Cecelia: "..."
It had been many years since she had called anyone "Mom," and she found she couldn’t get the word out anyway.
She took hold of Candy’s hand and nudged her half a step forward.
"Candy. Say hello to Grandma."
Candy opened her mouth to speak, but she too was cut off.
"That’s not necessary either. No need to be so polite with me. You’re Cecelia Archer, correct? Sit. I’ve been waiting a long time for you. I have something to say."
Candy clearly sensed the woman’s ill intent. She took a step back, leaning against Cecelia’s legs and timidly clutching her hand.
Seeing this, Jessica Bell felt a twinge of pity after all.
"Ms. King, take the child outside to play. Don’t come back until I call for you."
